Northland predator trapping guidelines

This document contains information on how to safely use traps and toxins to control animal pests in kiwi areas. The information has been compiled by Ngaire Tyson, Northland Biodiversity Coordinator for the NZ Landcare Trust. The booklet is updated each year with fresh information from workshops and the latest products from pest control suppliers.

Pest fencing or pest trapping: A bio-economic analysis of
cost-effectiveness

Care of researchers from the Department of Conservation and Landcare Research this paper published in 2014. Looks in to the cost effectiveness of predator proof fences versus ongoing predator control by trapping.

How to avoid kiwi when trapping and poisoning animal pests

Controlling possum populations is important for the health of our forests and the long term survival of their native inhabitants. Kiwis for kiwi and the Department of Conservation compiled this document as a guide on how you can safely use traps and poison in kiwi habitat.

Forest monitoring

A forest monitoring assessment kit (FORMAK) has been designed for landowners, landcare groups and community groups. It is aimed at people with an interest in the condition of native forest ecosystems, but not much time available. The measurements are relatively easy to use, and require around 5 days per year for 1–2 people.

FORMAK was developed by PA Handford & Associates Ltd, with support from the Sustainable Management Fund, administered by the Ministry for the Environment. Support was also provided by the NZ Landcare Trust, QEII National Trust, and several regional and district councils.

Pest Detective

The Pest Detective website, has been set up the National Pest Control Agencies (NPCA) launched in November 2014 to provide an online tool to help people in New Zealand identify the presence of pest animals from field sign.www.pestdetective.org.nz

Biodiversity Inventory and Monitoring Toolbox

The Biodiversity Inventory and Monitoring Toolbox describes a selection of standardised methods for sampling populations of species. A link to this toolbox can be found here.

Tracking tunnel monitoring guidelines

Humane kill traps

Landcare Research has tested some of the kill traps that are available in New Zealand for pest contyrol to determine which ones meet the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) standards as humane kill traps (see www.landcareresearch.co.nz). www.predatortraps.com is a website about three types of humane kill traps developed by the Department of Conservation and Philip Waddington – the DOC 150, 200 and 250. The DOC 150 and 200 target stoats, rats and hedgehogs, while the DOC 250 also kills ferrets. The site includes information about the target animals, advice on using the traps and details of where to buy them. The Goodnature Ltd. A12 self-resetting trap for possums and the A24 for rats and stoats have also passed the NAWAC standards for the target pests. Steve Allans’ SA2 Kat trap has passed humane kill standard for trapping cats carried out by Landcare Research (see A12 Humane Evaluation – Possums.pdf, A24 Humane Evaluation Rats.pdf,A24 Humane Evaluation – Stoats.pdf and SA2 Kat trap report)

Please be aware that there are imitation traps that look like DOC 200 available. These copied traps have not passed NAWAC and are not DOC 200s and cannot be used on Public Conservation land.

Controlling mustelids for conservation in New Zealand

A 2007 presentation about controlling mustelids, by Craig Gillies, of the Department of Conservation, is available to download. It covers why stoats, ferrets and weasels are such a problem for New Zealand native species, and the most effective way to trap each of them.In 2009 Craig did another presentation called Beyond Stoats: Ferrets & Kiwi, which is available to download. The document looks at the biology / ecology of Ferrets, an outline of the problem, and, management options & considerations.

Pig trap designs

Wild pigs are a problem for kiwi – competing with them for food, destroying their habitat and eating their eggs and chicks. The QEII National Trust has advice on building and setting pig traps.

Equipment suppliers

Several companies supply animal pest control and monitoring equipment, here is an alphabetised list of some of these companies:

Animal Control Products, in Wanganui, provides bait products to control a wide range of introduced vertebrate pests, including rabbits, wallabies, possums, rooks and feral ungulates. Outlets are listed on the site.

Farm suppliers also often carry animal pest and predator control products, including traps, baits and bait stations. These can be found through the Yellow Pages.

Regional councils also supply some products, including traps and lures. Links to their websites are available from Local Government New Zealand.

Forms and templates for community projects

The following downloadable PDF forms have been developed so projects do not have to design their own field forms. Collecting and recording field information is important so projects can review what has been done and also to provide information to funders.

Managing animal pests on DOC managed land

DOC has procedures to ensure its animal pest operations are effective, managed safely and meet all legal requirements. Most of these procedures also apply to pest operations carried out by others on land managed by DOC.

Other links that may be useful

The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network provides detailed information about animal pests in New Zealand.

Landcare Research has an online decision making system to help you decide what the most effecive possum control method for your needs will be. It also includes information on best practices.

The Centre for Wildlife Management and Conservation have published their Research and Development Highlights for 2011 and platform for 2012. The Centre focuses research efforts and teaching to deliver the next generation of tools to better protect native animals and plants from mammalian pests, improve ways in which to conserve threatened species, and to better equip people to use and deliver these tools.